The Osceola times., 1887-05-21


"The conductor! Where is hep Oh,
sir! Start! Start! Get to the siding!
The express is coming"
With cry she snatched lantern
from a brakeman's hand, and in flash
was gone They saw her light pitch
ing and dancing through the darkness,
and they were lost in wonder and
amazement The girl is crazyl No
train is due now! There can be no
danger. She must be"
All! that horrible whistle. Such a
wild shrek on a winters night! The
men sprang to the train, and the
women and children fled in frantic ter
ror in every direction.
Run for your lives" screamed the
conductor. There's smash-up COM
ingr'
A short. sharp scream from the whis-
tie. The headlight cleaned on the
snow-covered track, and there was
mad rush of sliding wheels, and the
gigantic engine roared like demon.
The great '59' slowly drew near and
stopped in the woods. A hundred heads
looked out, and stalwart figure leap
ed down fromthe engine and ran in the
bright Of the headlight.
"Kater'
ooh! John, l."
She fell into his arms senseless and
white, and the lantern dropped from
nerveless hand.
They took her up tenderly and bore
her into the station house and laid her
on the sofa in the "ladies' room"
With hushed voices they gathered
gound to offer aid and comfort. Who
was she? How did she save the train?
How did she know of its approach?
''She is my daughter" said the old
station master. "She tends the tele-
graph"
The president Of the railroad, in his
gOldbowed spectacles, drew near. One
grand lady in silk and satin pillowed
Kate's head on her breast. They all
gathered near to see If she revived
She opened her eyes and gazed
about, dreamily, as fin search of some
thing.
"Do you wish any thing, my dear9"
said the president, taking her hand.
"Some water, if you please, sir; and
| want-I want"
"Are you looking for any one,
miss ?"
"Yes--no-it is no matter. Thank
you. ma'am, feel better. ! sprained
my foot on the sleepers when ! ran
down the track. 1t is not severe, and
III sit up"
They were greatly pleased to see her
recover. a quiet buzz Of conversation
filled the room. How did she know it?
How could she tell the special was
chasing us? Good Heavens! II she
had not known it. what an awful loss
of life there would have been. 1t was
very careless in the superintendent to
follow our train in such reckless man
ner
"You feel better, my dear9" said the
president.
"Yes, sir. thank you. I'm sure. I'm
thankful | knew John-l mean the en-
gineer-was coming
"You can not be more grateful than
We are to You for averting such dis
astrous collision"
''I'm sure am pleased, sir. l never
thought the telegraph"
She paused abruptly.
What telegraph"
"Id rather not tell, sir"
"But you will tell us how you knew
the engine was comingP"
Must you know?'
1--WE ought to know In order to re-
ward you properly"
She put her hand in gesture of re-
fusal, and was silent. The president
and directors consulted together. and
two of them came to her and briefly
said they would be glad to know how
she had been made aware of the ap-
preaching danger.
"Well, sir, if John is willing, will
tell you all"
John Mills, the engineer, was called
and he came in, cap in hand, and the
entire company gathered round in the
greatest eagerness.
Without the slightest affcctation she
put her hand on Johns grimy arm, and
said:
"Shall / tell them, John? They
wish to know about it. 1t saved their
lives, they say
"And mine, too" said John, rever-
emily. "You had best tell them, or let
me-"
She sat down again, and then and
there John explained how the open
circhit line had been built, and how il
was used, and frankly told why it had
been erected.
Never did story create profounder
sensation. The gentlemen shook hands
with him, and the president actually
kissed her for the company. A real
corporation kiss, loud and hearty The
ladies fell upon her neck, and actually
cried over the splendid girl. Even the
children pulled her dress and put up
their arms about her neck, and kissed